Claiming it needs a ruling as soon as possible, the North American Soccer League has asked an appeals court to start the legal process Nov. 10.
The league has filed an 18-page motion for an expedited appeal of the U.S. District Court’s denial of a preliminary injunction that would have required U.S. Soccer to sanction the NASL as a Division 2 league next year.
In its filing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the NASL said that the “clock is ticking right now.”
In a written decision Saturday, Judge Margo K. Brodie of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York turned down the league’s request for the temporary relief it sought in its federal anti-trust case against the U.S. Soccer Federation.
In its latest filing, the league said the court’s ruling would likely be a “death blow to the NASL.”
The NASL has proposed an expedited schedule. It would have its opening brief due Friday, U.S. Soccer’s brief response Nov. 17, the league’s reply brief Nov. 22 with oral arguments during the week of Nov. 27 or as soon as practicable.
U.S. Soccer, on the other hand, wants the NASL opening brief Nov. 13, its response brief Dec. 1, the league’s reply brief Dec. 7 with oral arguments to take place the week of Dec. 14 or as soon as practicable.
The NASL said that seven teams are ready to play in 2018. That includes five of eight teams from 2017 season and two expansion teams in California. Six teams from the National Premier Soccer League also have letters of intent to join the league.
The NASL will hold The Championship final in San Francisco Sunday, as the San Francisco Deltas host the Cosmos.
Given the timing of the legal procedure, it is not known whether it would be the final game of the league.
The NASL has not said whether it will continue in 2018 if it doesn’t have Division 2 status.
